Pharmacology (Non-Thesis)

Program Overview

This graduate program in Pharmacology provides a comprehensive understanding of drug mechanisms, evaluation methods, and ethical considerations in pharmaceutical research. Students gain expertise in the molecular and biochemical basis of drug actions, as well as the pharmacological effects of drugs on the nervous system and other organ systems. The program includes laboratory experiments, seminars, and electives to enhance practical skills and research capabilities.

Program Outline

Outline:

• GPSC 570: Drug Mechanisms (3 Credits):
This course introduces students to the molecular and biochemical basis of pharmacologic selectivity and drug actions. Topics include receptor theory, receptor regulation, signal transduction, and receptor classification.
• GPSC 572: Methods of Evaluating Drug Actions I (4 Credits):
This lecture-laboratory course covers the use of physiological and analytical methods in determining the site, mechanism of action, and toxicity of drugs and chemicals. The laboratory experiments include basic techniques used to monitor drug action and toxicity, evaluating drug action on selected disease states, and in vitro biochemical methods used to determine pharmacologic and toxicologic actions, teratogenicity, and reproductive toxicity.
• GPSC 573: Methods of Evaluating Drug Actions II (4 Credits):
This course is a continuation of GPSC 572 and employs pharmacological, physiological, and analytical methods used in determining the binding site, mechanism of action, and toxicity of drugs and chemicals. The laboratory experiments involve an interdisciplinary approach incorporating the various areas of pharmacology and toxicology.
• GPSC 673: Advanced Pharmacology II (3 Credits):
This course covers the mechanisms by which pharmacological agents interact with the living organism, providing students with a rational basis for investigations in biomedical research. Topics include the pharmacodynamics of drug classes and the fundamental principles of pharmacology with respect to molecular mechanisms and biochemical responses to drugs in the human system.
• GPSC 515: Ethics in Research (1 Credit):
This course introduces students to the foundational ethical principles and practices related to pharmaceutical research.
• GPSC 576: Neuronal Pharmacology/General Toxicology Principles (4 Credits):
This course surveys the pharmacological mechanisms of drugs that affect the peripheral and central nervous systems. It also examines the effects of toxicants from the perspective of mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular level. The lectures present foundational principles of toxicity and survey how particular toxicological mechanisms affect various organ systems.
• GPSC 694: Pharmacology Seminar Oral/Written (2 Semesters) (4 Credits):
This course provides training in the effective presentation of scientific research in a formal setting. Students are required to give oral presentations and write a scientific paper.